kit and a way to secure the piece to the wall?
If not, look at how you can make the piece
safer for your particular needs.

Control clutter

“Clutter is such an enemy—I battle it too,”
Ireland says. Your spaces have to work hard
enough without being drowned by clutter.
Ask yourself if the accessories you’re buying
will enhance or bring something new to the
space—or is it just more filler that you don’t
need? As for objects that pile up, Ireland recommends following the philosophy of the
“three D’s”: Do it, ditch it or delegate it.

Happy compromises

Accommodating a variety of tastes is certainly not easy, but your home will be happier
if people feel as if they have a say. With kids,
for example, give them a top three (whether
it’s wall color or a desk for their room) to pick
from. Also, get other people’s perspectives on
things like furniture placement: We each see
space differently, and they may offer something you hadn’t considered. C

Judi Ketteler is a Cincinnati-based freelance
writer who writes for many publications.

The Costco Connection
Costco carries Kathy Ireland’s office furniture and entertainment units by Martin
Furniture. You’ll also find furniture suitable
for multipurpose rooms at the warehouses
and on Costco.com.

k

room, small kitchen space and so on—
because of its size and good looks. You
can even add more stools (available on
Costco.com) to use for additional diners
or game players, and the set also makes
a comfortable hub for conversation.

While the pub set’s quality is impressive, the value is even more so. This same
set at other retailers sells for almost twice
as much.—Jeffrey Olsen